Single contact dial indicator



ssn? Nov. 30, 1948.

H. G. MAGEALSON SINGLE CONTACT DIAL INDICATOR I Filed Feb. 23, 1945 3mmorge ayealsorz.

Patented Nov. 30, 1948 UNITED STATES Arenr ICE The present inventionrelates to new and useful improvements in indicators designed for usewith lathes to indicate the proper position or adjustment of the cut-offtool carried by the lathe compound for cutting grooves or similaroperations in stock, or for cutting off" predetermined lengths of thestock.

An important object of the present invention is to provide an indicatorof this character embodying means for attaching the same to a lathecompound for movement therewith and embodying a contact finger adaptedfor movement into engagement with the end of the stock to indicate whenthe compound and cutting tool carried thereby has been properly adjustedrelative to the stock and in which the contact finger is moved laterallyaway from the stock as the cutting thereof progresses in order not tointerfere with the piece cut from the stock.

A further important object of the invention is to provide an indicatorattachment for lathes of this character adapted to be secured inposition to the lathe compound by one of the tool posts forming partthereof.

A still further object is to provide a device of this character ofsimple and practical construction, which is efficient and reliable inoperation, relatively inexpensive to manufacture and otherwise welladapted for the purposes for which the same is intended.

Other objects and advantages reside in the details of construction andoperation as more fully hereinafter described and claimed, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawing forming part hereof, wherein likenumerals refer to like parts throughout, and in which- Figure 1 is afront elevational view of the indicator,

Figure 2 is a side elevational view thereof, and

Figure 3 is a front elevational view showing the indicator attached tothe lathe compound.

Referring now to the drawing in detail wherein for the purpose ofillustration I have disclosed a preferred embodiment of the invention,the numeral 5 designates an indicator plate having a pair of rearwardlyextending spaced apart ears 6 provided with aligned openings 7 forslidably mounting the plate on a bar 8 and secured in longitudinallyadjusted position on the bar by means of a set screw 9.

To one end of the bar 8 is attached an arm I!) adapted for supportingthe present invention on one of the tool posts ll of a lathe compound 12of conventional construction.

The plate 5 is spaced forwardly of the rod 8 as will be apparent from aninspection of Figure 2 of the drawing and an indicating arm or lever I2is pivoted at the rear of the plate on a pin or bolt 13.

An extension I4 is secured to the lower end of the arm l2 by means of aset screw I5, the lower end of the extension being formed with a pointerl6 projecting through a slot I! in the lower end of the plate andcooperating with a scale I8 marked on the front surface of the plate.

Secured to the upper end of the arm I2 is a horizontally extending pinl9 to the threaded end of which is attached a contact finger 20. Thecontact finger 20 has an end portion embracingly supported in a threadedsleeve 2|, the sleeve 21 being movable into threaded engagement with thethreaded end of the pin 1 9 to thereby adjustably attach the contactfinger 20 to the pin IS.

A stop pin 22 is threaded through one of the ears 5 in the path of theforward movement of the upper end of the arm I2 to limit forwardmovement thereof and a coiled spring 23 has one end recessed in the rearedge of the arm l2 and its other end bearing against the other of theears 6, the spring yieldably restraining rearward movement of the armand maintaining the arm in a perpendicular position as indicated inFigure 1 of the drawing.

In the operation of the device, with the arm in secured to the post I!of the lathe compound the contact finger 20 projects forwardly in a direction for contacting the rear end of the stock 24 secured in the lathehead stock 25. The compound is adjusted forwardly by the handle 26 tomove the contact finger 20 into a position for touching the end of thestock, the slightest pressure of the finger against the revolving stockbeing sufiicient to move or vibrate the pointer l6 whereupon the propersetting of the compound may be indicated.

The handle 21 is then manipulated to adjust the lathe compound [2 in adirection for moving the cutting tool 28 into engagement with the sideof the stock whereupon a groove may be cut annularly in the stock at adesired distance inwardly of the end of the stock, or the end of thestock may be cut off. As the tool 28 cuts into the stock the contactfinger 20 will be moved laterally of the stock and out of contact withthe end thereof so as not to interfere with the falling off of the cutoff end of the stock.

Any easily detected deviation from the vertical position of the pointerI6 will indicate that the lathe compound has not been properly adjustedon the stock and thus indicate the necessity for further adjusting thecompound before the cutter is moved into cutting position,

In view of the foregoing description taken in conjunction with theaccompanying drawing, it is believed that a clear understanding of theconstruction, operation and advantages of the invention will be quiteapparent to those skilled in the art. A more detailed descriptionthereof is accordingly deemed unnecessary.

It is to be understood, however, that even though I have herein shownand described a preferred embodiment of my invention, that the same issusceptible to certain changes fully comprehended by the spirit of theinvention as herein described, and the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim is:

1. An indicator for a lathe of the type including a lathe compoundadapted to carry a cutting tool and having longitudinal and transversefeeding means and also including a lathe head stock adapted for holdingwork thereon, said indicator comprising a plate having spaced aperturedears extending in a plane transversely to the plane of the plate, meansextending through the ears and adjustably secured therein and attachedto the compound for movement therewith, a lever pivoted to the platebetween the ears, said pivot being intermediate of the ends of saidlever thereby forming an upper and a lower arm, a pin mounted on theextremity of said :upper arm at right angles thereto, a contact fingeradjustably attached to the pin for contacting the worlgsaid lower armhaving a forwardly-projecting portion attached to its extremity, anupstanding pointer on this iorwardly-extending portion, a lower part ofthe plate having an opening for receiving the forwardly-projectingportion of the lower arm, a scale for the pointer on the front face ofthe plateand above the opening, an adjustable stop mounted in an ear-andengaging one side of the upper lever arm, and a spring engaging theother side of said lever arm and re-acting against the other ear.

2. An indicator for a lathe-of the type including a lathe compoundadapted to carry a cutting tool and having longitudinal and transversefeeding means and also including a lathehead stock adaptedior holdingwork therein, said indicator comprising a plate attached to the compoundfor movement therewith, a lever arranged in superposed relation withrespect to said plate and pivoted to the latter at a point between itssides, the pivot point being intermediate oi the ends of said leverthereby forming an upper and a lower arm, a pin mounted on the extremityof said upper arm at right angles thereto, a contact finger adjustablyattached to the pin for conabove the opening.

3. An indicator for a lathe of the type including a lathe compoundadapted to carry a cutting tool and having longitudinal and transversefeeding means and also including a head lathe stock adapted for holdingwork therein, said indicator comprising a plate attached to the compoundfor movement therewith, a lever arranged in superposed relation withrespect to said plate and pivoted to the latter at a point between itssides, the pivot point being intermediate of the ends of said leverthereby forming an upper and a lower arm, a pin mounted on the extremityof said upper arm at right angles thereto, a contact finger adjustablyattached to the pin for contacting the work, said lower arm having aforwardly-projecting portion attached to its extremity, anupstandingpointer on this forwardlyprojecting portion, the lower part ofthe plate having an opening for receiving :the forwardlyprojectingportion of the lower arm, a scale for the pointer on the front face ofthe plate and above the opening, and a stop on said plate and engagingone side of the upper lever arm for limiting the forward movement of thelatter.

HARRY G. MAGEALSON.

REFERENCES vCITED The following references are of recordin the file ofthis patent:

